Sand testing tool for wells



April 26, 1932. F. HUx 1,855,914

SAND TESTING TOOL FOR WELLS Filed Deb. 5, 195o 2 sheets-shea 1 O a o l/ Jl. l 8 2, /1

Patented Apr. 2e, 1932 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE FRANK HUX, OF BRUNI, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD DRILLING AND SAND TEST- ING COMPANY, OF WEBB COUNTY, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS SAND TESTING Toor. Fon WELLS Application. 1ed December v5, 1930. Serial No. 500,280.-

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for deep well drilling, more specifically for making a test of the formation through which the drill passes to ascertain if a producing stratum has been encountered.

The presentxinvention has further relation to a sand testing tool filed in the United States Patent @Hice on July 1, 1929, under Serial Number 375,171.

One of the objects of this present invention is the provision of an improved valve construction so made that sand and other substances under pressure of gas or oil will be prevented from cutting or damaging the valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for retaining the packer in uncollapsed positionv in spudding past an obstruction in the well and for allowing the packer to be collapsed at the bottom of the hole when desired. The packer retaining means embodies a construction which is very strong and durable and which will not shear olf or become easily7 broken under the Weight of the 'drill stem, particularly at such time as the packer is collapsed in the hole.

With the foregoing and other advantages in viewthe invention will be better understood from a perusal of the following detailed construction, in connection with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a well casing in a well and illustrating a side elevational view of the improved sand tester.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 represent a longitudinal sectional and enlarged view through the main part of the tool the perforated pipe not shown, the figures being in reality a continuous view, but separated for convenience in drawing.

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the valve by itself.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views taken along correspondingly-indicated lines of Figures 2 and 3 respectively.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a tubular member with flanged parts, taken slightly above the view in Figure 6.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

1 indicates the well casing and 2 is a section of drill pipeto which the tool or sand tester is attached. The drill pipe is interiorly threaded at the joint and fits over the shoulder 3 and is threadedly engaged with the upper member 4 of the tool. The member 4 is interiorly hollowed and threaded with left hand threads as at 5 and includes an annular ledge or flange 6 and which provides a seat for bearings. Below the lower end of the member 4 is a tubular coupling 7'and above the latter is a head 8, the construction forming a housing for the member 4 in connection with a threaded sleeve 9 which joins the two parts, coupling and head, together. A ring 10 forms a support or race for the ball bearings 11 and normally allows the member 4 to be rotated by the drill stem when required.

A valve 12, clearly shown in Figure 4, and having left threads as shown at 13 and provided with spaced marginal channels 14 is disposed within the member 4. The lower end of this valve is also provided with lugs 15 seated in the slots 16 which prevents the valve from rotation but permits it to be moved or slid vertically. Centrally of and at each end of the valve are placed the cone-shaped members 19 and 20 and these members enable the valve to seat in the nipples 21 and 22 accordingly as the valve is moved from one seat to the other. The purpose of these members 19 and 20 is to prevent the sand and other substance under pressure of oil or gas from cutting or injuring the central part of the valve during the operation of the tool.

Seated within the coupling 7 is a channeled member 25 having a flanged'part 26, the latter part forming a support and connection for a packer element 28. The lower end of this packer-is seated in a cup 29, threadedlyengaged with a tubular member 30. A short pipe 31 having connected thereto a perfor-' atedv pipe 32 forms the eXtreme end of the tool, the oil entering through the perforations.

Connected 4to the channeled member 25, and disposed in the packer 28 `is a tube 33 with opening 34. This tube is shown in crosssection in Figures 6 and 8 and has a semicircular flange 36-better illustrated in Figure 9. The purpose of the anges 36 is to enable the packer to be retained from a collapsed position when desired and for collapsing the packer at the bottom of the well. For this purpose and to enable the flanges to be released from' the semi-circular ledges or shoulders 40 in the tubular member 30, in the side walls of member 30 and extending below the flanges are slots A. When the packer is to be expanded or collapsed, rotation of the drill stem will allow the tubular member 30 to descend until the flanges rest upon the lower wall of the slots A.

In operation of thel tool, the nipple 21 and the cone-shaped member 19 are in contact at the beginning of the valve operation, as shown in Figure 1, hence the channel or bore 3 of member 4 is closed. Rotation by the drill stem of the member 4 to the right lowers the valve 12. because the latter has left hand threads. The valve 12 is thus moved from the bore 3 and opening the latter and establishing an open communication between this opening and the channels 14 of the valve. When in this position, the opening or bore 34 of the members 25 and 33 will also be clear and thus permitting a test of the stratum from below to enter and pass upwardly to the bore 3.

Thevalve is closed at the lower end by a continued right hand rotation of the member 4 which movement causes the conical member 20 to be seated in the nipple 22, thus closing the bore 34.

The packer may be collapsed by a left rotation of the drill stem and member 4. As in the first movement of the valve 12 by turning the member 4 to the right lowers the valve, a left turn jams the upper end of the valve against the nipple 21 further left turning of the member 4 thus prevents any rotation of these parts between the bearings 11 or swiveling thereof, thereby turning the entire upper and lower parts of the tool. One

. left quarter turn causes the flanges 36 to move into the slots A, whereupon the weight of the drill stem' may be lowered to collapse the packer. Then a. successive number of right turns opens and closes the valve 12.

In keeping with the spirit and intent of the invention, the structure of the tool may be modified and altered, such changes to be within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A tool of the character described comprising a body including a valve with left hand threads, channels in the valve, and' members seated in the opposite ends of the valve and projecting therefrom for the purpose of deflecting substance passing through the valve to prevent cutting and injury to the latter; a packer spaced below and connected to the tool body; tubular means within the packer and projecting below lthe packer and having a slotted tube attached thereto anda perforated pipe strainer on the lower end of the tool; said tubular means withln the packer including hanged parts nbrmally seated on ledges in the slotted tube; sald packer being expanded by a left rotation of the drill stem connected to said body of the tool to cause said flanges to move iii o said slots on lowering of the drill stem weight.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, said slotted tube enclosed in a pipe projecting below the tube and a strainer secured to the pipe.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

FRANK I-IUX. 

